Pediatria pre prax 6/2007

ROTAVIRAL INFECTIONS

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of diarrhoeal diseases in infants and small children worldwide, including European countries. Rotaviral gastroenteritis affects virtually all children up to 5 years of age. In developing countries it is the third most cause of mortality out of infectious causes in this age group. In developed countries, rotaviruses are responsible for high morbidity, increased hospital admissions due to acute gastroenteritis and present the most common cause of nosocomial infections in children. Preventive sanitary and epidemiological measures have only limited impact. The only way of prevention of clinically important cases is vaccination.

Keywords: rotavirus, rotavirus gastroenteritis, vaccination, Rotarix, Rotateq.